Steering device.



J. B. HUNT.

STEERING DEVIGE.

- APPLICATION FILED 001218, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910" a sums-sum 1.

J. B. HUNT.

STEERING DEVICE. APPLICATION IILED OUT. 16,1909.-

966,750. Patented Aug. 9', 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/5 iii. E'. M

Ill!!! I I A? m of useful purposes, which may, be easi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

" JAMES B. HUNT, OF ROCKWELL, FLORIDA.

s'rnnmne DEVICE.

cation thereof. I have vshown the same as being utilized as a steering mechanism for motor vehicles.

The primary -ob'ect of the resent invention is to provi e a device 0 the above character which is adaptable to a multiplicit y ant quickly operated and is at all times under the control of the operator.

Another object isto provide a fluid actuated-steering device for motor vehicles which when operated will instantly cause the turnin of the steering wheels in response to the wi l of the operator, and may be locked in such position.

A further object is to provide a' very simply constructed fluid actuated device which comprises aprimary fluid containing chamber, and laterally extending piston.

- chambers communicating therewith, a du- -plex piston being mounted in said fluid chamber and longitudinally reciprocable therein to discharge the fluid into the piston chambers and alternately reciprocate the pistons therein.

-With these and other objects in view,: the

invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arran einent of and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device showin the same applied as a steering mechanism for motor vehicles; 2 is an enlarged top plan view thereof; f ig.

v 3 is a horizontal section through the device;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5--5 ofFig. 3.

The 'successful ioperation of automobiles and other motor driven vehicles is largely 7 dependent on the construction of the steering A mechanism, which asenerally provided is of an extremely comp lcated nature and is -vise a flui arts here Specification of Letters 2mm. Patented Aug. 9, 1910. Application filed Ootober 1a, 1909. Serial. No. 523,004.

reason is directly many accidents.

It is the. (purpose of my invention to depressure steering mechanism,

which is of extremely sim le construction,

said mechanism being at al times under the control of the operator, whereby the wheels of the vehicle may be readilyturned:

. To attain the above en I provide a primary fluid cylinder 5 which as shown in Fig. 1 is transversely positioned and supported in the vehicle frame A. I preferably form this 0 linder in two sections, the o posed ends 0 which are formed with responsible for I a great the circumscribin flanges 6 to provide one-. 2

half of a central ousing 7, suitable securing bolts 8 extending transversely through the flan es 6 and securing the two sections of the cylinder together. 'tegrally formed with the cylinder 5 and laterally extending. therefromare the piston chambers 9, the

outer ends of which are threaded to receive a removable closure cap 10. Within each of the chambers 9 a piston 11 is disposed and has reciprocatory movement therein, the piston stem 12 extendin throughthe cap 10 and having an eye 13' ormed on its outer end for a purpose which will later appear.

A spiral spring 14 is positioned about the' piston stem, and normally retains the piston 11 in a position adjacent to the communicating point of-the chamber with the cylinder 5.

A circular head 1.5 is loosely disposed in the housing 7 and is adapted for manual rotation through the medium of the operating handle 16 which extends through a slot [17 formed in the flanges 6. Horizontally positioned in the cylinder 5 there is a duplex iston 18, the heads of which are normally disposed adjacent to the chambers 9. These heads are connected by ascrew 19 which is movable through the head 15 as willbe later described. One of the sectionsofthe cylinder 5 is ,formed with the interior opposed longitudinal. grooves or recesses 20. The

stop pi ns'21 are radially-1' ositioned inone en o f .tl 1 'e screw 19, and etweenytheljnner endsofthese pins-a coiled spring 21 is a1,- rang'ed within the transverse i, he screw. The outer endsof .engi ged in the groove 20- in the wa and whenthescrew is position U in the cylinder the. pinsnire forced inwardly. against thetension of the spring, which forces said pinsradially from the screw as they. are

pinsare oplemng 19f in linder moved into the groove. 7 As shown in Fig. 3, whenthe piston heads are in their normal position, thesepins are centrally located in the groove 20. When the operatin handle 16 is manipulated to rotate the hea 15, the screw 19 will be moved through the head to reciprocate-the piston 18 longitudinally in the cylinder, and the engagement of the ends of the pins 21-with the walls of the groove will prevent the rotative move ment of the piston. The slot 17 through which the handle 16 extends is adapted to limit the reciprocatory movement of the piston. I

Secured upon one of the fl es 6'there is a rack segment 22 which is a a ted to receive a spring actuatedpin or 0g 23 carried by the operating handle 16 and operable through a pivoted grasp 24:, which is the ordinary form of rack lever. In this manner the piston heads 18 may be indefinitely held in the position to which they have been moved. 7

Within the cylinder 5 the oil or other pressure fluid 25 is disposed, and this fluid may be renewed by removing the plugs 26- which close the filling openings in the cyhnder wall. As shown in Fig. 3 the actuating fluid. is in the ends of the cylinder'beyon the piston heads, and is ada tedto be discharged into the piston cham ers 9 upon the reciprocatory .movement of the piston 18,-

whereupon. the pistons 11. will-be reciprocated within the chambers and their stems 12'moved through the caps 10 against the tension of the spring 14. It will be noted that as the pressurefluid is forced into one of the chambers 9 through the movement of the piston, the space in the other end of the cylindenis enlarged thereby, and the fluid withdrawn from the other of the chambers 9 so that the spring 1 1 will force the piston 11 inwardly to its normal position thus an alternate reciprocatory movement is imparted to the piston stems 12, which movement asbefore stated is limited by the stop pin 21.

As shown in Fig. 1, a link rod B has one of its ends engaged in the eye 13, the other end thereof being pivoted to the inner end of a transverse rod C which is rigidly secured at its outer end to the steering knuckle D. As shown, when the operating handle 16 is moved in the slot 17, the piston stems 12 are longitudinally reciprocated in opposite directions, and position the links and C as shown in dotted lines to angularly position the vehicle wheels E upon. the ends of a stationary shaft F. The degree of angularity is of course entirely dependent .upon the extent of movement of the handle 16, and the comparative 'diametrical proportions of the cylinder 5 and the chambers 9. It will be readily understood that the reciprocatory movement of the piston-stems 12 will be increased or decreased according tothe amount of actuating fluid which enters the chambers, and this fluid will be expelled into said chambers with a greater or less force in accordance with the rapidity of movement of the piston 18 and the proportional diameters of the c .linder and chambers. pair of the chambers 9 could very well be provided upon the opposite side of the cylinder, and operated to independently direct each of the vehicle wheels during the turn ing movement of the machine.

It will. be obvious-that another I have described above the principal and 7 most important use to which the device is adapted and for which it is primarily dealso be used for the steering of ships or other vehicles and can also be employed for the application of friction on hoisting engines, steam shovels, etc, and as a lifting jack for elevating cars and heavy pieces of machinery, or in any other instance where a high powered lifting jack is necessary.

signed, but it will be understood'that it may From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a fluid actuated device, which is of very novel construction and when utilized for the steering of motor vehicles, may be instantly actuated to turn the wheels, and lock the wheels in such position if desired.

The device is so located in the machine as to be within easy reach and at. all times under the control of the operator. Moreover, its construction is, of such simplicity that the liability of the steering mechanism to get out of order and become unmanageable is avoided. It requires no attention whatever beyond the filling of the fluid cylinder, and is in no wise affected by vibrabelieve to be thepreferred form of my in vention it will be understood that various modifications may be resorted to'in the details of construction without materially affecting the essential features thereof or departing from the spirit of the invention.

A device constructed as above described may also be utilized for driving what is known as lever railway cars which "are adapted to be driven by hand through the medium of cranks which are rotated by a manually operated lever.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a fluid actuated device of the character described, a fluid cylinder, a plurality of piston chambers communicating with said cylinder, a spring pressed reciprocating piston in each of said cha'mbers,a duplex plston' ciprocating said duplex piston to alternately 7 force the fluid into the chambers and 'reciprocate said pistons, the springs in said chambers being placed, under compression.

2. In a fluid actuated device 0 the character described, a fluid cylinder'consisting of two sections, the opposed ends of each section having a circumscribing flange, fastening bolts disposed through said flanges, a laterally extending cylindrical chamber integrally formed with the cylinder and communicating therewith at the other end of each of said sections, a reciprocating piston' disposed in each of said chambers, means for normally holding said pistons against reclprocatory movement, a 'du lex piston disposed in said cylinder, one o the'piston heads being located in each of the sections,

means for reciprocating said piston in either direction, such reciprocation being adapted to force the liquid 1n the cylinder into one of said chambers to force said piston outwardly against the holding means, said piston holding means forcing the other of the pistons inwardl and dischargin the liquid rom the cham er, and means or limiting the reciprocatory movement of the duplex piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

i v 3. In a fluid actuated device ofthe char acter described, a cylinder adapted to con: tam actuat ng fluid, said cylinder consisting of two sections, the opposed ends of each of said sections being flanged and connected together, sa1d flanges forming a, housing, a rotatable head mounted in said housing, a duplex piston disposed in said cylinder adapted to be reciprocated therein by the rotative "movement of said head, a laterally extending-chamber inte ally formed at the opposite ends of the cy 'nder, a reciprocatng plston mounted in each of said chambers, the reciprocatory movement of the duplex Elston being ada ted to move the actuating uid to alternate y reciprocate said pistons, and means for llmiti the reciprocatory movement of saiddup ex piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In afluid actuatedde vice of the character described, a sectional cylinder adapted to contain an actuating fluid, one end of each of the sections having a laterally extending O chamber integrallyrmed and communicatin therewith, suitable securing means being-a apted to connect the other ends of said sections, said cylinder sections having a housing formed in thelr connected ends, a

head rotatably mounted in said housing;

. ing

means for rotating said head, a duplex piston'disposed in said cylinder, the rotative movement of said head being adapted to re-.

ciprocate said piston, av reciprocatlng piston mounted in eachof said chambers, a spring normally acting to force the piston inwardly, the reciprocation of said duplex iston moving the actuating fluid in the cy inder to alternately reciprocate the pistons in said chambers, and means for limiting the reciprocatory movement of said duplex piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a fluid actuated device of the char- I acter described, a'cylinder having a central housing formed therein, a laterally extendchamber integrally formed with said cylinder at its opposite ends, a reciprocating I piston in each of said chambers, a duplex 1 piston mounted in said cylinder, means rotatably mounted in said housing adapted to reciprocate said piston, an actuating fluid in said cylinder between the piston in said chambers and the heads of said duplex piston, the reciprocatory movement of said last named piston being adapted to force the fluid into said chambers and alternately reciprocate the pistons therein, and means for limiting the movement of said duplex piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7

6. In a fluid actuated. device of thecharacter described, a fluid containing cylinder having a housing centrally. formed therein, a rotatable head disposed in' said housing, a

duplex iston disposed in said cylinder, said ends of said cylinder, a fluid actuated reciprocatory piston dis osed in each of said chambers, the actuating fluid being contained between said'plistons and the heads of the duplex piston, t e reciprocatory'movement of said last-named piston being adapted to alternatel force the actuating fluid into each of sai chambers and reciprocate the pistons therein, and means earned by said duplex piston to prevent rotatlve movement thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

7. In a fluid actuated device of the character described, a fluid cylinder having a central annular housing, a cylindrical chamber extending latera y from each end of said cylinder, a removable closure for the outer ends of said chambers, a reciprocating piston disposed in each of said chambers, a spring isposed abouteach of the piston stems between the h'eads thereof and the closures, a rotatable head mounted in said housing, said head having an operating 7 tion of the operating head, substantially as 1n g an operating-handle in ally with said head, said haiiifi ing, a duplex piston mounted in said cylinder, the piston heads being connected by a screw, said screw engaged in and movable" and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a fluid actuated device of the character described, 'a fluid cylinder having a housing centrally formed therein, a laterally extending chamber integrally formed with sald cylinder at'its opposite ends, a spring controlled fluid actuated reciprocatory piston disposed in each of said chambers, a rotatable operating head in said housformed through a slot formed in the housing, aced piston heads disposed in said cylin er, ca screw connecting said heads for simultaneous reciprocatory movement, said screw bemg engaged in and movable through the operating head upon the rotation thereof,

- the reciprocation of said heads being adapted to force the actuatingfluid into said chambers and alternately reciprocate the piston therein, a spring pressed stop pin carried by saidscrew, the ends of said pin being disposed in a longitudinal groove in the cylinder wall and adapted to prevent rotative movement of said plston heads, and

means for holding said operating head against reverse rotation, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a fluid actuated device of the char acter described, a cylinder having-a housing centrally formed therein, a laterally-extending chamber integrally formed with said cy inder and communicating therewith a spring controlled reciprocating plston disposed in each of said chambers, a rotatable operating head mounted in said housing, an

7 operating handle carried by said head and extending through a: slot in the housing, means for holding said operatmg-head against rotation,a piston head disposed in Said cylinder upon opposite sides of the housing, a screw integrally formed with said heads and .connecting the same, said screw being engaged in and movable through the operating head upon the rotation thereof torreciprocate said pistons, a spring pressed stop pin carried by said screw-adapted to prevent rotation thereof, andan actuating fluid in the opposite ends of said cylinder between the e. extending between the piston heads and the pistons in said chambers, said fluid being forcedinto said chambers to alternately reciprocate the pistons therein, uponthe reciprocation of the pistons in said cylinder, substantially as I and for-the purpose set forth.

'10. In a fluid actuated device of the character described, a cylinder having a laterally extending chamber at its opposite ends,

a fluid actuated reciprocatory element in each of said chambers, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, the actuating fluid being disposed between the ends of said piston and saidelement, means forv causing the reciprocatory movement of said piston, and radially extending spring pressed stops carried by said piston and adapted to engage in said cylinder to prevent the rotation of said piston.

11, In a fluid actuated device of the character'described, a' cylinder having a central housing formed therein, a laterally extending chamber integrally formed on the op posite endsof said cylinder, a fluid actuated spring controlled reciprocating piston in 'with the walls of a groove interiorly formed v each of said chambers, a duplex piston in said cylinder, the heads of said piston being disposed on opposite sides of said housing, a screw connecting said piston heads, manuslly operated means disposed in said housing and engaged with said screw to reciprocate said piston, the actuating fluid being disposed between the pistons in said chambers and the heads of said duplex piss ton, the reciprocatory movement of said piston being adapted to alternately force the fluid into said chambers and reciprocate the pistons therein, a' segmental rack mounted on the housing adapted to receive a spring pressed dog carried by the operating means.

to hold said duplex piston at any point of its'reciprocatory movement, said screw having a transverse opening through one end thereof, stop pins movable in said opening and extending from said screw at diametrically opposite points, a coiled spring disposed in said opening between the inner ends of said pins, said spring being adapted to force the pins outwardly to dispose their outer ends in opposed longitudinal grooves in the cylinder wall, said pins being adapted to limit the reeiprocatory movement of said duplex piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. Ina fluid actuated device'of the character described, a fluid cylinder, a piston chamber communicating with each end of said cylinder, a spring pressed piston in each of said chambers, a reciprocating duplex piston mounted in the cylinder," a movable body between each of the heads of the duplex piston and the pistons in said chamtherewith, a reciprocating piston in each of 10 said chambers, a movable body between each of the heads of the duplex piston and the pistons of the chambers, a manually operable rotatable head engaging with the duplex piston to reciprocate the same and force the movable bodies alternately into said piston chambers to reciprocate the. pistons therein,

means for returning the said pistons to their normal positions, and means for limiting the reciprocating movement of the duplex piston. j

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. JAMES B. HUNT.

Witness es:

WM..M. GOBER, A. B. .KILnLEn. 

